Local LeT Militant Killed In Shopian Encounter
SRINAGAR (KIMS) — A local militant, affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit has been killed in an encounter in Shopian district of South Kashmir on Friday.
The encounter broke out between a joint team of forces including Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF at Chotigam village in the district during early hours today.
Earlier, a joint team of government forces including Indian Army, J&K Police and CRPF had launched Cordon-and-Search-Operation (CASO) at Chotigam village in the district following the inputs about presence of militants in the area.
As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot, the militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.
In the encounter, a local militant identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat, son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat, a resident of Chek Cholan Shopian was killed. He was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK series rifle and 03 magazines were recovered from the site of encounter.
Jammu and Kashmir Police in a press release said, “The killed militant was involved in several militant crime cases including killing of local army personnel namely Umer Fayaz son of Fayaz Ahmad Parray resident of Sudsan Kulgam, hurled grenade upon non-local labours in Hermain, resulting in on spot death of two labourers. He was also involved in killing of Kashmiri pandith namely Sunil Kumar Bhat son of Sri G Bhat & injuring other Kashmiri pandit Pretimber Nath son of Arjun Nath Bhat, both residents of Chotigam Shopian. He was also involved in attack on local Bal Krishan @Sonu resident of Chotigam.”
“Moreover, he was involved in instigating local youth to join militant ranks and induced 12 local youth into the ranks of militants. Besides other militant crimes, he was also involved in killing of arrested militant who was leading the search party during a CASO at Nowgam in the year 2022,” the press release said. — (KIMS)
